Tuesday, 31 January 2012

Liverpool left Molineaux Stadium with three more points tonight in the Premier League after triumphing over Wolves 3-0.

Manager Kenny Dalglish omitted skipper Steven Gerrard from the night, rumoured to be out with a slight injury but Jay Spearing started after spending some time on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

After 30 minutes, Dirk Kuyt attempted a repeat of his winning goal only a few days earlier that knocked Manchester United out of the FA Cup, but it was too high above the bar to make any threat.

But Wolves produced the best chance in the first half. Michael Kightly had a one on one with keeper Pepe Reina while just on the edge of the box but the ball just went wide right.

Charlie Adam for Liverpool created a great chance for Andy Carroll but it was blocked by Stephen Ward. Jordan Henderson tried his luck too but his shot was saved by Wolves keeper Wayne Hennessey. It was not a convincing first half for either side as the halftime whistle blew at 0-0.

After halftime, Adam tried again with a fantastic cross right to Carroll who slotted the ball into the left hand corner of the net and finally opening the scoring in the 52nd minute.

Less than ten minutes Craig Bellamy battled it out between three Wolves defenders, taking a shot that Hennessey struggled to stop. It brushed his gloves into the net then doubling Liverpool’s lead.

It was Kuyt who finished it again with the third and final goal. Assisted yet again by Adam, Kuyt put another ball past Hennessey in the right corner of the net.

Although Carroll was obviously hungry for his second goal of the night and had a couple close calls towards the final minutes, the game ended at 3-0 with Liverpool claiming victory.

Anfield is home to Liverpool Football Club and has been the stage for some highs and lows of English and European football.

There is another group, however, that call Anfield home.

For 13 years now, Liverpool have been running an educational programme called Reduc@te. For the youths that participate in the program, the draw is that it takes place at Anfield.

“I always believed that the principal initial attraction of the education centre was the location, for example here at Anfield, but the materials once here have to be of consistently top quality,” said Education Centre Manager Keith White.

“The combination of these two things leads to much improved educational interest and performance from the children of all ages who attend.”

Originally set up in 1999, Reduc@te is an after school programme for children in primary and secondary school covering numeracy, literacy and ICT (information and communications technology). The best part of Reduc@te for the kids is that they receive this tutoring right at Anfield, including learning experiences in the club store and museum, discovering the ins and outs of the financial side of a successful business.

Reduc@te is not only in the time after school. The programme offers full days, specifically focusing on certain activities such as Spanish and French, Football Globalisation days and Respect Weeks.

Students at secondary school get to enjoy Business days, where they learn about all sorts of activities off of the pitch to understand how the club generates revenue through business partnerships. They get to spend two and half hours with senior members of staff at Anfield to ensure the greatest learning experience possible.

The project was originally funded by the government, but since the introduction of the Coalition Government in 2010, the club has continued with the programme. White indicates that this can be a positive.

“Here at Liverpool we have kept going and even have a brand new centre,” he said. “With a blank canvass we can put on any educational programmes without any direction from Government, national or local,”

Due to no involvement from the government now either local or national, Reduc@te is not just limited to schools in Merseyside. Any school from anywhere can attend. White ensures that he helps design a curriculum suitable to what any attending school’s goals would be from participating in the programme.

“The curriculum is designed around what schools want from their visits and so to this end I and the schools work in partnership,” he said. “This is a successful tried and tested way of ensuring that all visits receive first class evaluations from schools which have visited.”

Because it combines quality learning tools, a specifically tailored curriculum and child-friendly atmosphere, Reduc@te has proven successful with children and leaving educators happy with the experience. After all, the chance to be involved with one of the biggest football clubs in the world would make any child eager to learn.

Sunday, 29 January 2012

In what is always a tense meeting between the two teams, Liverpool managed to knock Manchester United out of the FA Cup in the fourth round, 2-1.

Patrice Evra was inevitably greeted by boos and chants after the Luis Suarez debacle but despite the negativity thrown that way, United still dominated the ball.

However, it was Liverpool that opened the scoring in the 21st minute and in front of the United fans too.

Chris Smalling headed out an attempt by Liverpool’s Jose Enrique, allowing the Reds a corner. Captain Steven Gerrard took the corner and it was headed into the net by defender Daniel Agger.

But the Red Devils’ persistence paid off not long after. Ji-Sung Park put the ball past keeper Pepe Reina into the bottom right corner of the net from only eight yards out in the 39th minute.

The second half seemed a near repeat of the first. United continued to control the midfield, and Liverpool was giving the ball away too much for comfort. Manager Kenny Dalglish made some changes in the 63rd minute including Charlie Adam on for Dirk Kuyt and Dirk Kuyt for Jamie Carragher. Later, Craig Bellamy would replace Steven Gerrard. After all of the subs were made only then did United begin to falter. Alex Ferguson tried to avoid the prospect of a replay by also making changes including Berbatov for Ryan Giggs and Hernandez for Paul Scholes.

And it was Dirk Kuyt who saved the trouble of a possible replay at Old Trafford. In the 88th minute, the Dutch international easily blast the ball past United keeper David De Gea from a pass off of Andy Carroll. Anfield naturally filled with deafening roars of cheers.

Dalglish spoke highly of Kuyt and the rest of the team’s efforts after the match.

“For Dirk it's a fantastic day and it's a great day for us to go through to the next round of the FA Cup,” he said. “To beat Manchester United is a great achievement for everybody.”

Wednesday, 25 January 2012

Liverpool secured their trip to Wembley with a 3-2 (agg) win over Manchester City in the second leg of the Carling Cup semi-final.

Defender Jose Enrique nearly opened the scoring in the fourth minute just eight yards from the goal but City’s Joe Hart had a fantastic save. Liverpool continued to make Hart work early in the game with a shot by Charlie Adam and in the 20th minute, an attempt by Craig Bellamy.

Bellamy tried yet again only a few minutes later only to be caught offside.

Nigel De Jong instead opened the scoring with a Manchester City goal with a brilliant curl into the net, giving keeper Pepe Reina no chance.

Liverpool responded immediately bringing the ball back to City’s half but yet again they were denied by Hart. Nothing would come from the corner they were given.

But Liverpool came back. Micah Richards hit the ball with his arms in the box from a Daniel Agger shot, giving Liverpool a penalty. Captain Steven Gerrard comfortably took it and brought the Reds back five minutes before halftime.

Liverpool continued the fight in the second half. A sneaky attempt by Martin Skrtel had Joe Hart scrambling but the keeper managed to save it. Bellamy could have added to the scoreline but missed the chance by mis-kicking. Instead, Dzeko did just that for City after a superb pcross from Kolarov and firing at close range in the 67th minute.

The Reds wanted it more. Bellamy finally got it past Hart after a great pass from Dirk Kuyt from the left and a quick pass with Glen Johnson. Immediately Liverpool tried for another but Kuyt just headed it wide.

Any effort by Manchester City after that was dealt with finely by the Liverpool defense. Bellamy was replaced by defender Martin Kelly with a couple minutes to go in an effort to keep the score the way it is.

And with that...Liverpool are Wembley bound to face Cardiff City in the final.

Sunday, 22 January 2012

﻿The Reds’ suffered a devastating blow last night when they were defeated by Bolton at the Reebok Stadium 3-1.

Liverpool were woeful nearly from the start, when in the third minute Bolton’s Mark Davies, assisted by former Liverpool striker David Ngog, had no problems getting past Red defenders and keeper Pepe Reina to put the ball into the lower right corner.

Bolton doubled their lead in the 30th minute when again, the Liverpool defense seemed absent while Nigel Reo-Coker completes a near repeat of Davies goal earlier with a neat pass from Chris Eagles.

Seven minutes later, Craig Bellamy gave some hope of somewhat of a comeback for Liverpool. The goal itself is sloppy but Bellamy takes a pass from Andy Carroll, skips the ball over the keeper and it slowly made its way into the net with Bolton’s Zat Knight chasing after it with no hope of stopping the goal.

Bolton’s third and final goal came in the second half from a corner kick. Steinsson’s powerful shot into the lower left corner left Liverpool with little to no hope of making a comeback.

Manager Kenny Dalglish said after the match: “There's nobody been at this football club that's not had respect for other people. If that is what the problem was then, that they thought this game wasn't as important a game as the next one, then fine but they'll not be here.”

Saturday, 14 January 2012

Liverpool won 1-0 over Manchester City tonight at the Etihad Stadium in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-finals.

The first half saw a lively Liverpool against a lackluster Manchester City. Andy Carroll could have opened the scoring five minutes into the match, but a delay in taking a shot allowed Manchester City keeper Joe Hart enough time to deny it.

Captain Steven Gerrard also took his chance five minutes later when again Hart blocked his low attempt.

But a couple minutes later, defender Daniel Agger was fouled inside the box by City's Stefan Savic. The Blues' defender kicked too high and into the knee of Agger, granted the Reds a penalty which Gerrard took and put past Hart into the bottom left corner of the net.

City striker Mario Balotelli, who only just returned from beingout with an ankle injury, took a free kick after a tumble with Liverpool's Charlie Adam. The Italian was obviously angry after Adam tapped his head before getting up, and he took his shot right into the wall.
Sami Nasri replaced Balotelli just before halftime and took the best chance for City in the first half with a shot from outside the penalty area.
Manchester City woke up in the second half. Nasri, Aguero and Micah Richards all gave keeper Pepe Reina a workout in the first 15 minutes.

Despite City dominating possesion in the second half, they failed to score with any of their chances. Nasri tried his luck again 20 yards out but it went flying over the bar. the Blues made sure that Reina continued to stay plenty busy.

Manager Kenny Dalglish substituted Craig Bellamy in the 80th minute with defender Jamie Carragher, with an aim to keep the Blues at bay.

A scuffle between Carragher and Nasri would see them both get the only yellow cards of the game. Nasri seemed to have went to head butt the Reds defender after Carragher furiously blocked his attempt at getting the ball.

Although Manchester still pushed for that equalising goal, creating several chances and close calls, Liverpool were the ones to walk away in victory.

Liverpool triumphed in a 5-1 win at Anfield tonight in the third round of the FA Cup over Oldham Athletic.

Although the Lactics opened the scoring 28 minutes into the game with goal from 30 yards out by Robbie Simpson, Liverpool equalised shortly after with a ball into the lower corner of Oldham's net when Craig Bellamy deflected Jonjo Shelvey's shot.

Maxi Rodriguez was pushed in the box, allowing captain Steven Gerrard to take the penalty and the lead for the Reds before halftime.

Although in the second half, Oldham were as lively as they started in the first, nothing could become of it although Tom Adeyemi shined for the visitors.

Bellamy and Shelvey striked again when Shelvey got the goal this time from Bellamy;s assist, making it 3-1.

Two more goals came from substitutes Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing, his first since arriving from Aston Villa over the summer.

Manager Kenny Dalglish spoke after the match, explaining that some of player on the pitch tonight needed more time out there.

"It's a wee while since some of the players who haven't played as much as the others have had a game," the manager explained. "So it was important for us to give them a run out as well.

"It showed they needed games. There was nothing wrong with their application, but they did lose a goal.

"You can train as much as you want, but you cannot replicate what happens on a football pitch. Everybody will be better off for the game."

Liverpool will now face Manchester United in the fourth round of the FA Cup on the 28th of January.